Chrysanthemum plant named &#39; gedi two are&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant cultivar characterized by a decorative-type inflorescence, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, free branching habit, deep red ray florets, a very uniform round growth habit, and a large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] The new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant is hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘GEDI TWO ARE.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The new cultivar is a product of hybridization of a femaleparent, cultivar ‘Aldo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,216), and a male parent,cultivar ‘GEDI RA8’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,605). This cultivar wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor in October 1998.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cuttingand meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The cultivar ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GEDI TWO ARE.’ Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ as a new anddistinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

[0007] 1. Decorative-type inflorescence,

[0008] 2. Consistent flowering response to short days, bloomingconsistently after 49 days of short day length,

[0009] 3. Free branching habit,

[0010] 4. Deep red ray florets,

[0011] 5. Very uniform round growth habit, and

[0012] 6. Large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

[0013] The new cultivar ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ has more ray florets perinflorescence and different color ray florets than the female parentcultivar ‘Aldo.’ The new cultivar also blooms naturally earlier than‘Aldo.’ The new cultivar ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ has a different flower type thanthe male parent cultivar ‘Red Alcala’ and is taller and wider than themale parent. The new cultivar also has a wider bloom diameter than ‘RedAlcala’.

[0014] In comparison to the commercial variety ‘Diablo’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 9,586), the new cultivar ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ blooms naturally two weekslater and has a more flexible plant habit. The new cultivar also has arounder shape and greater branching than ‘Diablo’ and has more bloomsper flowering branch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0015] The photograph shows a plant of ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ which was grown ina 6-inch container. One cutting was used in the pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Oxnard, Calif. during themonth of December and January. The growing temperature ranged from 55°to 68° F. at night to 60° to 75° F. during the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

[0017] Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar ‘GEDITWO ARE’.

[0018] Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

[0019] Parentage: Hybridization of Dendranthema grandiflora cultivars‘Aldo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,216) and ‘GEDI RA8’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.11,605).

PROPAGATION

[0020] Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.

[0021] Rooting habit: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

[0022] Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.

[0023] Height: Approximately 21 cm.

[0024] Spread: Approximately 25 cm.

[0025] Growth rate: Moderate.

[0026] Branching characteristics: Free Branching.

[0027] Length of lateral branches: Approximately 19.5 cm.

[0028] Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 19.

FOLIAGE

[0029] Leaf:

[0030]Arrangement.—Alternate.

[0031]Average length.—Approximately 6 cm.

[0032]Average width.—Approximately 5.4 cm.

[0033]Shape of blade.—Ovate.

[0034]Apex.—Cuspidate.

[0035]Base.—Attenuate.

[0036]Attachment.—Stalked.

[0037]Margin.—Palmately lobed.

[0038]Texture of top surface.—lightly pubescent.

[0039]Texture of bottom surface.—lightly pubescent.

[0040]Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near 137C. Young foliage underside: Near 138A. Mature foliage upper side: Near 139A. Mature foliageunder side: Near 147B. Venation upper side: Near 147D. Venationunderside: Near 147C.

[0041]Type.—Net.

[0042] Petiole:

[0043]Average length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.

[0044]Color.—Near 137A.

[0045]Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

[0046] Inflorescence:

[0047]Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length required toinduce and develop blooms.

[0048]Inflorescence form.—Decorative.

[0049]Natural flowering season.—Approximately the middle two weeks ofSeptember.

[0050]Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately 11.

[0051]Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.8 cm.

[0052]Inflorescence depth.—1.8 cm.

[0053]Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 18 days.

[0054]Persistence.—Persistent.

[0055] Ray florets:

[0056]Appearance.—matte.

[0057]Texture.—smooth.

[0058]Average number per flower.—117.

[0059]Shape.—Spatulate.

[0060]Aspect.—Flat.

[0061]Margin.—Entire.

[0062]Apex.—Retuse.

[0063]Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.

[0064]Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.

[0065]Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near 187B. Upper surface atmaturity: Near 46D. Upper surface at fading: Near 60A. Under surface atfirst opening: Near 187D. Under surface at maturity: Near 186C. Undersurface at fading: Near 186D.

[0066] Disc florets:

[0067]Appearance.—Shiny.

[0068]Texture.—Smooth.

[0069]Average number per flower.—1.

[0070]Shape.—Cylindric.

[0071]Apex.—Obtuse.

[0072]Average length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.

[0073]Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.

[0074]Color.—At first opening: Near 154A. At maturity: Near 13A. Atfading: Near 15A.

[0075] Peduncle:

[0076]Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.4 cm. Atlateral end (longest): Approximately 9 cm.

[0077]Angle to stem.—Acute.

[0078]Strength.—Moderate.

[0079]Color.—Near 144A.

[0080]Habit.—Upright.

[0081]Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

[0082] Inflorescence bud:

[0083]Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.

[0084]Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 cm.

[0085]Form.—Globular.

[0086]Color.—Near 187B.

[0087] Involucral bracts (Phyllaries):

[0088]Appearance.—Matte.

[0089]Texture.—Lightly pubescent.

[0090]Number present throughout inflorescence.—approximately 109.

[0091]Shape.—Oblanceolate.

[0092]Margin.—Entire.

[0093]Apex.—Acute.

[0094]Length.—0.6 cm.

[0095]Width.—0.3 cm.

[0096]Color.—Upper side: Near 139B. Under side: Near 139B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0097] Ray florets:

[0098]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1. Stigma shape: 2branched. Stigma color: Near 13A. Style length: 0.5 cm. Style color:Near 154D.

[0099] Disc florets (hermaphroditic):

[0100]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1. Stigma shape:two-branched. Stigma color: Near 13A. Style length: 0.3 cm. Style color:Near 154C.

[0101]Staminate.—Number of stamens per flower: 5. Anther shape: Tubular.Anther color: Near 15A. Pollen: No pollen detected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemumplant named ‘GEDI TWO ARE’ as herein illustrated and described.